Would it be advised on hot days (85+) to leave the door open when running the generator to help keep it a bit cooler?Also, when traveling in hot weather, does anyone run their onboard gen so they can run their AC's? I don't know that it sounds like a good idea, but wanted to see if it is a common practice or not?

If the generator is installed properly, there's no need to leave the door open. If you're referring to a door or panel on the generator itself (as opposed to one on the RV to get at the generator), having it open or removed will often lessen the cooling efficiency of the generator by allowing cooling air to escape rather than flow over the hot bits to cool them down.Many people run the generator while on the road, and it's not really a safety hazard or otherwise a bad idea. You do need to shut it off (along with the main engine) when refueling, of course.

My experience, 100 plus degree day, ran gen on the road for AC. About 8hs driving.Pulled into CG, thing vapor locked. Was fine in a few hours.So yeah I think you can get them hot enough to vapor lock

Having an air cooled diesel generator (Lambordini) I found that having clean cooling fins helps. I play a strong fan across it on miserably hot days.

Yes, running the generator while on the road is common practice. On my 5th wheel trailers I liked to run the generator to cool things off about an hour before arrival. Opening the compartment door won't do much. My current generator is enclosed in a sound insulated box with a vented door and the generator has its enclosure of course. My other larger trailer just had the generator in the front compartment, no sound box and it was less noisy. The difference between the current 4.0 KW and previous 5.5 KW is substantial. Smaller one is a good bit louder, I only run it when I really need to!

Only once did my generator go OVERHEAT and shut downThat day when I got back to the ride after shopping the Genturi was so hot (NOTE the generator had already shut down) I had to wear gloves. So with the Genny off what was making that black polycarbonate tube too hot to handle... The SUN of course. only time I've needed gloves to handle it. The generator specifically warned to NOT open the compartment but keep it closed to insure proper (as designed) air flow... I suspect not all enclosures are proper. But do not open the generator's own access panel .

Question on Running Onan onboard Gen on hot days

12 Replies

winnietrey
Explorer
Jun 03, 2021
My experience, 100 plus degree day, ran gen on the road for AC. About 8hs driving.
Pulled into CG, thing vapor locked. Was fine in a few hours.

So yeah I think you can get them hot enough to vapor lock
DrewE
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2021
If the generator is installed properly, there's no need to leave the door open. If you're referring to a door or panel on the generator itself (as opposed to one on the RV to get at the generator), having it open or removed will often lessen the cooling efficiency of the generator by allowing cooling air to escape rather than flow over the hot bits to cool them down.

Many people run the generator while on the road, and it's not really a safety hazard or otherwise a bad idea. You do need to shut it off (along with the main engine) when refueling, of course.

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Question on Running Onan onboard Gen on hot days

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